Apparatus for molding solid-link chains.



W. C. HERRON.

LPPABLTUS'IDB HOLDING SOLID LINK cms.

.LPPLIOATIOFVIILED APB, 4, 1908.

Patentd June 1,1909. Harms-snm 1.

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W. G. HBRRON.

APPARATUS FOB MOLDING SOLID LINK CHAINS.

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923,52 1 Patented June 1, 1909.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

WILLIAM C. HERRON, OF SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH T0 E; A. REEVES, OF SARNIIA, CANADA,

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING SOLIDLINK HAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented Tune 1, 1909.

Application led April 4, 1908. Serial No. 425,206.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. IIERRON, a subject of the King of Great Britainand Ireland, residing at Sarnia, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Im )rovements in Apparatus for Molding Soli -Link Chains, of Which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accom anying drawings.

T e invention relates to the manufacture of solid link chains and it is the object of the invention to obtain a process and apparatus by which continuous solid link chains of any desired length may be formed.

To this end the invention consists, first, in a process for casting the chain insections having interlooped solid links; further, in the method by which each'section is united to the chain formed of the previously cast sections; further, in the peculiar construction of the matrices in which the chain section is cast, and, further, in the peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings-Figure l is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof; and Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view of the matrices in operativerelation to each other.

Generally speaking, the apparatus employed for forming the chain consists of a sectional mold having two parting )lanes at right angles and preferably perpen icular to each other, the mold cavities for alternate links being in the same plane and being interlooped with the link cavities in the other plane. With such a mold the necessary draft is provided to permit the sections to separate from the casting after each operation and upon again closing these sections the mold is in condition for a succeeding operation. Thus the sections of the chain may be successively cast. It is however one of the objects of the invention to obtain a chain of any desired length in which all of the links are solid, and to accomplish this each succeeding section is cast to interloop with the end link of the chain previously formed. This result is obtained by placing said end link in the end cavity of the series in the mold before the closing of the sections thereof. Thus by employing this method section after section may be added to the chain to produce any length desired.

In detail`,'the a paratus as shown consists of a suitable bed p ate A on which are mounted the pillars or frame members B for supporting the separable sections of the mold or matrices C. Each .of these matrices has formed therein mold cavity sections D and D in faces thereof which are at right an les to each other and when all of the matrices'. are close together a series of interloo ed mold cavities is formed. Each indivi ual mold cavity is fed from a sprue also formed in the matrices, there being two sprues F F for respectively feeding the alternate links, and arranged in. different )arting planes. The matrices C are supported and guided in their movement by any suitable means but, as shown, each is provided with a plurality of guide shanks G projecting laterally therefrom and engaging bearings in the pillars B. Springs H are also shown as sleeved upon these Shanks and operating to press the matrices toward each other or to close the mold. The matrices are withdrawn from each other by suitable mechanism such as the chains I secured at one end to the matrices and passing therefrom over sheaves J and connected to winding drums K. These in turn are op erated by rock arms L actuated by chains M assing downward to winding drums N in the base, these being operated by levers O at the side of the base.

With the construction described, when the levers O are released the tension of the springs H will force the matrices together. Molten metal, such for instance as molten steel, is then poured in to the upper ends of the sprues, which will feed to each of the individual link mold cavities. The expansion taking place as the molten metal solidifies is provided for by thedraft in the mold cavities, and by the yielding pressure of the springs H so as not to destroy the matrices. As soon as the metal has solidified, the levers O are operated to separate the matrices, permitting the cast section to be disengaged, but before again closing the matrices the end link of this section is placed in the recess P at'the lower end of the series of the mold cavities, so that in thc succeeding operation the cast section of chain will be united with'the first cast section.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. An apparatus for molding interlooped links conslsting of a base, a sectional mold arranged vertically upon said base, said mold arting faces ra-A a common `axis and havin cavitles formed diatin therefrom with mo 'in eac parting face and a air of vertical sprues extending'lon itudina ly of the mold for respectively fee lng the alternate link molds. y

2. An apparatus for molding interlooped links consisting of a base, a sectional mold arran ed vertically ulpon said base having a plura ity of parting p anes transverse to each other, the mold cavities for alternate links bein respectively in transverse planes and inter ooped with each other, a vertical sprue extending longitudinally of the mold in each parting lane and communicating respectively wlth alternate mold cavities, and means for separating and closing the sections iii-rectilinear paths.

l plura v parting p ane and communicating -With the 3. An apparatus for molding interlooped A links, conslsting of a base, a sectional mold individual mold cavities, and means carried by said base for simultaneously se arating sections of the mold in transverse p anes.

4. An apparatus for molding interlooped links, com rising a vertical sectional mold having a p 'urality of parting planes transverse to each other, the mold cavities for alternate links being respectively in transverse planes and interlooped with each other, a vertical sprue extending longitudinally of the mold 1n each parting plane commumca'ting respectivel with alternate mold cavities, means for yiel ably `pressing said sections t0- gether, and means for separating and closing the section in rectilinear paths.

5. An apparatus for molding intel-loo ed i links, consisting of a base, a series of pil ars thereupon, a sectional mold arranged vertically upon said base, a guide shank'extending throug oneof said pillars, and means secured to said shank for separating and closing the sections in rectilinear paths.

Iii testimony whereof l aiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM C. HERRON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. ADAMS, JENNIE MAITLAND. 

